Interview transcript, international sign language interpreter Gerdinand Wagenaar, The Netherlands

MINNA KATAINEN: Hello, I am here in the WFD Congress.

I am interviewing an interpreter from Holland. I am surprised that he is hearing with a great International Sign. Deaf people often enjoyed his sign and thought he is Deaf. He is really hearing and a CODA (Children of Deaf Adults).

I am going to ask him how he can understand International Sign, does he have any knowledge of different sign language.

 Please click on the second movie part which will be in International Sign of my interview with him.

MINNA: I am going to ask his background.

GERDINAND WAGENAAR: Hello, I am Gerdinand, with a long surname, I am not bothered to finger spelling it. Yes, it is right, I am an interpreter. Oh, I am also from Holland.

 MINNA: Are you a CODA with Deaf parents?

 WAGENAAR: Yes, I was born hearing to Deaf parents.

 MINNA: From your experience, you know Dutch Sign Language, but I am asking you, how can you interpret a really good International Sign, both in receiving and signing, in fast time possible?

 WAGENAAR: The first time I witnessed International Sign is in World Congress in 1987 I understood and liked it very much. At the same time, I communicated with Deaf participants, I understood them and they understood me. I became more and more aware about International Sign.

Many years passed, one Dutch Deaf man who was involved in EUD. He asked me to work with him as interpreter which I accepted and worked for about 10 years. I met up with many Deaf people from all over the Europe. At that time, many Deaf people approached me that I could do International Sign. I replied that I did not get an education on that sign language. But they encourage me to do International Sign.

That led me to working more on International Sign interpreting.

MINNA: How many sign languages do you know?

WAGENAAR: Really you thought I knew a lot, but I am fluent in spoken Dutch and English language. I have a full knowledge of Dutch Sign Language. But in Deafway in 1989, in one evening, I met up with a woman who I married 7 years later. We communicated through sign language. I realised that she was hearing and an American. She used American Sign Language. She is an interpreter and taught me ASL.

 MINNA: It has been said that International Sign have some ASL influence, perhaps 70 or 80%, do you agree?

WAGENAAR: It depends on the person who I am talking to. If that person knows a lot of ASL, I will then increase my ASL in order to communicate with that person better. If I see someone who has no ASL knowledge, I can be able to adapt my signing to match theirs. “International Sign” do not have an official percentage (%) of ASL allowed. The main point is to be flexible with the person who I am communicating with. The goal is not to achieve the International Sign communication, but to understand each other.

MINNA: Well, you have travelled all over the world to Deaf events for your work and you also had Deaf parents, I wanted to ask you a question – What is/are your view on “Deaf people in the Deaf World”. Are they either – “Normal”, “Special”, “Disabled” or just “Deaf”?

WAGENAAR: I think that we using Sign Language are special.

MINNA: Why Deaf people are “Special”?

WAGENAAR: Because if we met each other, but as hearing people, we will not be able to communicate through our spoken languages (Dutch or Finnish). That’s why I think Deaf people are special. We can be able to communicate with others worldwide with sign language (International Sign).

MINNA: One last question, I would like to have your view on Deaf people – like myself, who is Deaf and had hearing parents, should I not be categorized as a true Deaf person? How could you define “a true Deaf person” and how can you identify one?

WAGENAAR: I understand the question, I have been thinking, but I could not answer that. As well I do not want to label who is a true Deaf and who is not.

MINNA: Thank you!